Standley Lake sophomore Eric Macias, right, keeps his eye on the ball during the Gators’ 1-0 win over Pueblo Centennial on Wednesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — The eventual-game winning goal by Standley Lake senior Hunter Rouse on Wednesday night at the North Area Athletic Complex appeared to slow time itself.
“That goal seemed liked it took a lot longer than it actually did to go in,” Rouse said after the Gators defeated Pueblo Centennial 1-0 in the opening round of the Class 4A boys soccer state tournament. “I’m very happy it went in.”
Rouse broke the scoreless game in the 52nd minute. Rouse was able to elude a Bulldog defender and slid a shot past Pueblo Centennial freshman goalie Jesse Chavez. The shot hit the left post, but deflected to the right and trickled into the back of the net to give the Gators the lead.
Standley Lake senior Hunter Rouse, left, take a tumble. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Hunter is a special kid to me. I’ve been coaching him a long, long time in club and high school,” Standley Lake coach Mike Day said. “For him, his senior year, to get that goal was really special. I was just excited he got that opportunity to put that one in. He finished it.”
The No. 14 seed Gators (10-4-2) face No. 3 The Classical Academy (14-2) in the second round Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Colorado Springs. The Titans cruised past Windsor with a 6-0 victory Wednesday afternoon. TCA hasn’t allowed an opponent goal in its past nine games.
There will be some extra motivation for Standley Lake next week. TCA defeated the Gators in the state semifinals last season.
“I’m pretty excited about the opportunity to go down there,” Day said of facing last year’s state runner-up. “This is a pretty young team and we’re playing with house money.”
Pueblo Centennial (11-4) nearly evened the game at 1-1 in the 55th minute. In the Bulldogs’ best scoring chance, senior Seth Legan slid the ball from a tough angle, but ball went through the goal mouth and eventually across the end line.
Standley Lake sophomore Erik Macias nearly made it a 2-0 lead in the 71st minute, but his shot just sailed wide.
Pueblo Centennial’s Noah Stramm (11) gets tangled up with Standley Lake’s Lucas Sims. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Right when I missed I was thinking that hopefully (Pueblo Centennial) doesn’t score because I would have felt it was my fault,” Macias said.
Day graduated nine seniors from last year’s state semifinal team. Even Macias said he is surprised Standley Lake is in position to make another long postseason journey.
“We need another run. We need to go down and beat TCA,” Rouse said. “I think we are going to make another run.”
Jeffco schools showed evidence they could make another strong state tournament showing. Evergreen and Standley Lake both made the 4A semifinals last season. The Cougars eventually won the state title.
D’Evelyn, 4A Jeffco League champion, went on the road as the No. 17 seed and blanked No. 16 Denver North 3-0 in the first-round.
The Jaguars (11-4-1) get the task of facing No. 1 seed Cheyenne Mountain on the road in the second round Tuesday, Nov. 1. However, D’Evelyn handed the Indians (14-1-1) their only loss of the season with a 4-1 Jaguar victory in a non-league game Sept. 13 at Lakewood Memorial Field.
“I definitely think someone from Jeffco is going to be in there in the end,” Day said.
No. 20 Evergreen stayed in the mix to defend its title with victory in penalty kicks at No. 13 Niwot. Evergreen and Niwot played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer before the visiting Cougars from Jeffco dominated the shootout, 4-1.
“There is a lot of talent here in Jeffco,” Rouse said.
Green Mountain was the only Jeffco school to get bounced in the first round. Mullen defeated the No. 28 seed Rams 4-0.
Standley Lake sophomore Tate Minch (1) and Pueblo Centennial senior Noah Stamm (11) battle Wednesday at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)